49ers 7-round mock NFL Draft after first wave of free agency
By Peter Panacy
Round 5, Pick No. 155 Overall: 49ers select wide receiver Marlon Williams, UCF
Kyle Shanahan already has his starting two wide receivers set for 2021, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. But after losing No. 3 wideout Kendrick Bourne to a free-agent deal with the New England Patriots this offseason, that particular spot on the depth chart remains up for grabs.
True, the Niners inked former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Trent Sherfield to help on special teams and potentially serve as a third-down target. But the need to build up the depth chart remains, nonetheless.
Good thing this year’s NFL Draft is awfully deep at wide receiver.
One of the names to watch on day three of the draft is UCF wideout Marlon Williams, who made strides his senior season with 1,039 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Williams, 6-foot-0 and 215 pounds, looks good as a big slot, and Shanahan has frequently used bigger-bodied players to occupy this role instead of the traditional sub-6-foot players many other teams employ.
What makes Williams a better fit is his physicality and ability to create yards after the catch, again important traits for Shanahan’s offense.
While Williams will need to work on some route-running skills at the pro level, he could be yet another “gem of a find” on day three for San Francisco.